John Fraser: A Scottish Sixties Lad

John Fraser – a brief biography

John Fraser was born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 18th, 1931. Fraser was a pin-up star in the UK during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Finding information about him is extremely difficult. Fraser’s last film was the Scarlett TV series starring Joanna Whalley. I watched the series but did not recognize him, he must have aged so that he no longer looks like the boy beauty he once was! I first saw Fraser as the scheming Alfonso in the Heston epic EL CID and have tried to track down all of his films since then. Below I have listed the Fraser films worth seeing.

John Fraser’s Films

Scarlett [DVD](1994) DVD
The most famous love story in film history continues in the hit mini-series adaptation of the sequel to “Gone with the Wind.” Follow Scarlett O’Hara (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) as she travels to her family’s Irish homeland to forget Rhett Butler (Timothy Dalton) and finds the journey filled with romance, tragedy and adventure. Ann-Margret, John Gielgud, Stephen Collins and Annabeth Gish also star. 360 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English; “making of” documentary.

Isadora(1968) VHS – James Fox is also in it, don’t especially care for it though since I’m not a big Redgrave fan, she just seems crazy to me.

Doctor In Clover(1966) VHS – this series of “Doctor” films used to star Dirk Bogarde in the 50’s and early 60’s, this is another “Doctor” film, have not seen it but I don’t think Fraser stars in this.

A Study In Terror(1965) VHS – A Sherlock Holmes/Jack the Ripper film. This is available through Movies Unlimited, click on the title to go to their site. An average 60’s thriller, not as exciting or exploitative as the Hammer films, but interesting nonetheless. Fraser has a small but pivotal role in the film.

Repulsion(1965) VHS – One of Roman Polanski’s finest films starring Catherine Deneuve as a sexually frigit young woman who goes mad one weekend when her sister leaves her alone. Fraser plays a young man who is interested in her but becomes one of her victims as her psychosis grows. A MUST SEE!

Operation Crossbow(1965) VHS – this films stars several of my other favorite actors, Tom Courtenay and George Peppard. John Fraser has a role so small that I cannot find him. Supposedly he plays a pilot but maybe he’s wearing a helmut that blocks his face because I’ve never been able to spot him in this film!

Tamahine (1963) – A quirky British comedy about a free-spirited Polynesian girl who ends up living at an uptight British boys school. Cute film, a nice substantial role for Fraser. James Fox also has a small role.

Waltz Of The Toreadors(1962) VHS – Sellers comedy which I don’t find particularly funny. Fraser has a fairly good role as a young man who is competing with Sellers for the affections of the same woman.

Fury at Smugglers Bay (1961) – Peter Cushing and John Fraser together in a pirate movie! Swoon!!! I recently acquired this film from a soure off of EBAY, will have a review posted very soon!

El Cid(1961) VHS – This is the film I discovered Fraser in, one of the finest historical epics ever made. Brilliant all the way around and a particularly charged role for Fraser.

The Trials Of Oscar Wilde(1960) VHS – A film starring Peter Finch as Wilde and Fraser as “Bosey” the homme fatale in Wilde’s life, Fraser plays the same role that Jude Law did in the movie WILDE. A fine role for Fraser, perfectly suited to his dangerous beauty.

Tunes Of Glory(1960) VHS – A film about military men John Mills and Alec Guinness, I didn’t particularly care for it. Fraser has a small role, but he’s sporting his native Scottish accent for a change.

The Wind Cannot Read (1958) – A typically romantic film from the “Idol of the Odeons” Dirk Bogarde. Fraser has a minor role as one of Bogarde’s army buddies stationed in India. Fraser has a Scottish accent in this.

Titanic(1953) VHS
The fateful maiden voyage of the luxury liner Titanic is stirringly re-created in this Oscar-winning saga that follows the personal dramas of several passengers and the ship’s deadly encounter with an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Clifton Webb, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Wagner, Audrey Dalton, Thelma Ritter and Richard Basehart star. 98 min.

The Dam Busters(1954) VHS
Thrilling British WWII drama, based on a true story, follows a scientist who comes up with a way to destroy a series of German dams vital to the Nazi war effort and the RAF crew charged with carrying out the dangerous mission. Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Basil Sydney star; look quickly for Robert Shaw and Patrick McGoohan. 102 min.

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"If you think it is so easy to be a critic, so difficult to be a poet or a painter or film experimenter, may I suggest you try both? You may discover why there are so few critics, so many poets." - Pauline Kael

"If you think it is so easy to be a critic, so difficult to be a poet or a painter or film experimenter, may I suggest you try both? You may discover why there are so few critics, so many poets." - Pauline Kael